brand-logo

Pemphigus

Low urgency
-Moderately severe

Rare autoimmune disease characterised by blisters and erosions on the skin.

The cause of this attack on the body's immune system is generally unknown.

There are different types of pemphigus, depending on the symptoms, such as blisters, itching or skin pain: vulgar, foliaceous, vegetative, IgA or paraneoplastic.

Diagnosis is made by skin biopsy with direct immunofluorescence testing.

Treatment includes corticosteroids and sometimes other immunosuppressive therapies.

Early diagnosis and treatment improve the prognosis and course of the disease.

Bibliographic references
  1. McCuin JB, Hanlon T, Mutasim DF. Autoimmune bullous diseases: diagnosis and management. Dermatol Nurs. 2006 Feb;18(1):20-5.
  2. Bermejo-Fenoll A, López-Jornet P. Diagnóstico de las enfermedades vesiculares y ampollares de la mucosa bucal: desórdenes de la cohesión intraepitelial y de la unión epitelioconectiva. Med Oral 1996;1:24-43.
  3. Weinberg MA, Insler MS, Campen RB. Mucocutaneous features of autoinmune blistering diseases. Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 1997;84:517-34.
  4. Bagán JV. Enfermedades ampollares de la cavidad oral (I): pénfigos. En: Bagán JV, Ceballos A, Bermejo A, Aguirre JM, Peñarrocha M, eds. Medicina Oral. Barcelona: Masson,1995:220-6.
  5. Bianciotto C, Herreras Cantalapiedra JM, Alvarez MA, Méndez Díaz Mc. Conjunctival blistering associated with Pemphigus Vulgaris: Report of a case. Arch Soc Esp Oftalmol. 2005 Jun;80(6):365-8.
  6. Femiano F. Seeking approval: present and future therapies for pemphigus vulgaris. Curr Opin Investig Drugs. 2008 May;9(5):497-504. Review.
  7. Incidence of bullous pemphigoid and pemphigus vulgaris. BMJ. 2008 Jul 9;337:a209.
Author
Dr. Oscar Garcia-Esquirol
Copyright
© TeckelMedical 2026

Symptoms

    Blisters larger than 0.5 cm

    Upper skin layers come off when rubbed

    Blisters on scalp

    Blisters that flake off

    Blisters develop into eschars

Symptoms to watch out for

Fever (temperature higher than 38 ºC)
Reddish sores that are itchy, break open, and ooze clear fluid or pus
Reddened and painful ulcer in the affected area

Self-care

Maintain a balanced diet: increase fruit, vegetable, and white meat consumption and reduce the intake of fatty meals and fritters.
Maintain hydration of 2 litres per day.
Avoid spicy foods.
Avoid excessive sun exposure.
Use sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher.
Apply cream or an ointment with corticosteroids.
Check with your general practitioner about the prescription for oral corticosteroids.
Mediktor logo